Phase 2 Day 19

Well this morning I was pleasantly surprised with a weight loss of 1.8lbs! I don't know how that happened honestly, but I will take it. I am realizing just how important water is on this diet...I cannot go my day without flooding my system with tons of water. I have noticed a great improvement on the scale doing this, as well as in my hunger level and energy level. When I first read up on this diet, I thought...yeah, yeah, water is important...but I am now 100% convinced that it is necessary. So if you are on this diet or thinking about starting it, remember this tip...water, water, water!! Today was a busy, on-the-go day so I only drank 4 of my regular water bottle, and I have been drinking 5-6 consistently, that coupled with my big weight loss this morning will probably mean nothing tomorrow, but that's okay. I really enjoyed the food that I ate today, but looking back I realized that I used tomato for my fruit at both meals...I wonder if this will make a difference?

Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Water
Lunch: Curry Chicken with Tomato Soup
Dinner: Pork Loin Steak, 1/4 cup of my homemade tomato sauce, 2 melba toasts crushed (I mixed in salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley as well) as breading for my 200g of zuchini rounds (so good!)

The funny thing about these zuchini rounds is that I made them all the time before this diet. I used way more Melba toast for the crumbs, egg for sticking the breading, and a ranch/sour cream mix for dip, but you know what?...these were so awesome too! I don't know whether it is because I haven't had any breaded food for three weeks, but I would make them this way all the time :)

Don't they look yummy?

Phase 2 Day 13, 14, 15

So, I have definitely not been keeping up with my blogging...but to be fair it has been a CRAZY weekend! On Friday I got to go watch my Mom graduate from her nursing program. She was the valedictorian and gave an awesome speech. I also had to go to a baby shower and birthday party this weekend, and of course I made all the gift that I was bringing. I made paper dolls, a tutu, 3 head bands, a onesie, baby blanet and burp cloth. I got very little sleep in the last week because of all these activities, but I LOVE doing this type of stuff so it is worth it!

As far as the eating, I have been doing great. This morning marks 14 lbs gone and I am still feeling great! Sometimes I catch myself wishing I had lost more weight, but honestly it is incredible that I have lost that much in two weeks! I am really looking forward to more results in the next week, including getting into the 240's, which is a place I haven't been in 5 years! These past few days have not been without challenges, I mean a shower with peanut butter chocolate brownies, a birthday party with cake and roasted potatoes, and tonight...I am baking for my year-end parties I hold for my students, as well as for the Grade 3 class. My favorite cookie is a sugar cookie and I just made, baked and iced 68 of them...it is a special kind of toture for someone who is doing a no sugar, no carb diet!

I wish I could say that I didn't sneak anything, but I did have a miniscule piece of dough...I couldn't resist. It was bad, but I think it will be okay tomorrow. My willpower will still stay, but I just "needed" to have a taste. At this point in the diet, I am feeling great but also starting to miss the way I used to eat. I am not having cravings for things, but I miss having a sandwich, or my homemade egg salad with rice cakes. I have definitely not lost perspective on why I am doing this, and I love the results so far. I am, however, looking forward to beginning to eat "normally" again because I have drastically changed the way I think about portions, food and eating habits in general. It will be nice to finally have control over my eating habits...thank you HCG!

Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: Green Tea, Water
Lunch: 150g Cabbage (50 calories), 100g Ground Greek Chicken (114 calories), Green Tea
Dinner: 100g Chicken Breast (114 calories), 1/4 cup Homemade Tomato Sauce (25 calories), 200g Zuchini (32 calories), 2 Breadsticks (50 calories)

I am counting that tomato sauce as my fruit, and I FORGOT to eat my fruit throughout the day, but I am going to leave it because I am full and don't think I should eat if I'm not hungry. Anyways, I think I need to make my way to my bedroom to read because the smell of cookies and muffins is driving me CRAZY! (Oh, by the way I also made Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip muffins!)

Beef Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients:
100g of ground beef (originally cooked with salt, pepper, dried parsley, and garlic powder)
1/2 tbsp of liquid aminos
200g of tomatoes, weighed after being hollowed out (around 3)
1/2 tbsp of fresh parsley
1 Melba toast, crushed

Saute the whole package of extra lean ground beef, keeping in mind how many servings to get out of the total amount. Added salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried parsley to taste.

Portion the beef into 100g portions. (The 4 bags infront hold my ground chicken taco meat).

Take one package of the beef and place it in the castiron frypan with the liquid aminos and parsley. While this is warming up, hollow the tomatoes. Fill them with the beef mixture and top with melba crumbs. Put them in a 375 oven for 5 min, just until warmed through (I don't like the tomatoes soggy). Top them with a little bit more liquid amino, parsley to garnish and serve immeadiately.

Calories: 193